A MULTI-millionaire Birmingham businessman has appeared in court charged with assaulting his former city councillor wife.

It is alleged that Nazir Awan attacked Najma Hafeez in a car on Pershore Road, in Stirchley, on Friday.

He was arrested on Saturday after the alleged offence was reported to police by a third party.

Mr Awan, a former director, reckoned to be worth £22 million in the 2005 Asian Rich List, appeared before magistrates yesterday charged with causing actual bodily harm.

The 58-year-old, of Erdington, was bailed until next month.

He declined to comment about the charges.

He and Ms Hafeez are understood to remain together.

Ms Hafeez was the youngest and first woman to be elected to Birmingham City Council in 1983 at the age of just 22.

She chaired the powerful social services committee during a 12-year career in city politics.

She went on to become a non-executive director at Heart of England Trust, which runs Solihull, Heartlands and Good Hope hospitals.

Other influential public positions include her time as chair of the postal watchdog Postwatch Midlands.

She was married to the Birmingham City Council Labour leader Sir Albert Bore and they had two children. But the couple’s bitter split ended up in the courts when Sir Albert was cleared of assaulting her by throwing coffee in her face.

Mr Awan meanwhile is a former director of Awan Marketing, which was founded as a cash and carry business in 1976.

He went on to become established as a sales and distribution agent for video and audio tape giants TDK as well as large electrical manufacturers.

The firm continues to run a wholesale centre in Heaton Street in the city centre.

Mr Awan is also listed as a director of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and has chaired the Birmingham Asian Business Association.